Sequential numbering and type-holding device

ABSTRACT

An improved sequential numbering and type-holding device for removable attachment to a printing press form includes a supporting frame, a sequential number printing unit secured to the frame at a first location, and a movable remote actuating member for the number printing unit also supported on the frame at a second location spaced from the first location. The frame has a type-holder thereon for removably holding a selected printing-type member at a third location on the device as part of a desired common printing surface with the number-printing unit. The device also includes a connecting linkage between the numberprinting unit and the actuating member. The preferred embodiment includes first and second longitudinal frame members which define a type-holding slot between them for holding a selected printingtype member as part of the common printing surface between the number-printing unit at one end of the frame and the movable remote actuating member at the other end of the frame. Other details of a preferred connecting linkage and of a preferred construction and relative arrangement of parts are shown.

United States 1 [111 3,87 .1111 Danov et a1. lar. 25, 1975 SEQUENTIAL NUMBERING AND 245,957 l/1926 United Kingdom 101/80 TYPE-HOLDING DEVICE [75] Inventors: John Danov; Warren S. Hawkinson;

Vivian E. Miller, all of St. Paul, Minn.

[22] Filed: Dec. 29, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 519,473

[52] US. Cl 101/76, 101/88, 101/381 [51] Int. Cl B41j 29/40 [58] Field of Search 101/72, 76-89, 101/59, 381

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 546,382 9/1895 Geary et a1. 101/88 561,946 6/1896 Reinhardt 101/88 710,997 10/1902 Pitney... 101/79 778,837 1/1905 Barker r 101/88 834,556 10/1906 Bates 101/88 902,339 10/1908 Sprelmann et a1. 101/88 1,403,447 1/1922 Ruffalou 101/381 1,739,110 12/1929 Wheeler 101/381 2,571,825 10/1951 Bowers 2,818,014 12/1957 Jacquard... 3,450,040 6/1969 Knever 101/80 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 621,764 l0/l935 Germany 101/85 Primary ExaminerEdgar S. Burr Assistant Examinen-William Pieprz Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Dorsey, Marquart, Windhorst, West & Halladay [57] ABSTRACT An improved sequential numbering and type-holding device for removable attachment to a printing press form includes a supporting frame, a sequential number printing unit secured to the frame at a first location, and a movable remote actuating member for the number printing unit also supported on the frame at a second location spaced from the first location. The frame has a type-holder thereon for removably holding a se lected printing-type member at a third location on the device as part of a desired common printing surface with the number-printing unit. The device also includes a connecting linkage between the numberprinting unit and the actuating member. The preferred embodiment includes first and second longitudinal frame members which define a type-holding slot between them for holding a selected printing-type member as part of the common printing surface between the number-printing unit at one end of the frame and the movable remote actuating member at the other end of the frame. Other details of a preferred connecting linkage and of a preferred construction and relative arrangement of parts are shown.

7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures SEQUENTIAL NUMBERING AND TYPE-HOLDING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Sequential number-printing units are known which can be mounted in connection with a printing press of one type or another to provide successively different sequential numbers for individual copies made at successive impressions by the press. Such numbering units have been used, for example, in the pre-printing of bank checks for customers, so that the individual checks which are assembled in checkbooks of various style and design will be pre-printed with successive check numbers for the convenience of the user.

It has also been known to print such checks with a line of code numbers designed to indicate both the bank on which the check is drawn and the account number of the particular customer for which such checks are printed. These code numbers have been customarily printed in special magnetic or other inks, so that they can be sorted and otherwise processed by machines which can read and respond to such specially printed codes.

In the past, such specially printed code numbers have generally been placed at one location on a check, such as the lower left corner, while the sequential individual numbers for checks of a particular customer have been previously placed at another location on the check, such as the upper right-hand corner. Since these individual check numbers were primarily for the convenience of the customer, they did not need to be printed with special ink or with particularly rigid requirements as to their exact position on such checks.

More recently, however, there have been suggestions for the printing of the sequential individual check numbers in special ink at a location closer to the printed bank and customer code numbers, so that the individ-' ual check numbers can also be read automatically and printed on customers statements, if desired. Thus it may be necessary to locate such individual check numbers atan intermediate portion of the check, rather than near an end of the check. There has accordingly been a need for a numbering unit which can be operated by engagement with a printing-press member at a location somewhat remote from the actual printing area at which the numbers will be printed on a check, so that the sequential actuation of the number-printing unit will take place outside the area of the check to be printed and will not interfere with such printing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention accordingly provides an improved sequential numbering and type-holding device for removable attachment to a printing-press form, in which the device includes a supporting frame having a longitudinal axis, a sequential number-printing unit secured to the frame at a first location along said axis and having a movable number-setting member supported for number-changing movement at that one location, in combination with a movable remote actuating member for the number-printing unit supported on the frame and having a movable operating surface at a second location spaced along the axis from the number-printing unit, and with a type-holder on the frame for removably holding a selected printing-type member at a third location on the device in desired printing relationship with the number-printing unit, together with a connecting linkage between the actuating member and the number-setting member and interconnecting these members for number-changing movement of the numbersetting member in response to movement of the operating surface of the remote actuating member. Thus the actuating member can be engaged by an appropriate element of the printing press at each printing impression by the press to change the sequential numbers printed by the numbering unit, without changing the selected printing-type member until a selected sequence of numbered prints have been made from that printing-type member. At that point, the device provides for convenient replacement of the selected printing-type member, without removal of the numbering and type-holding device from the printing-press form, so that another series of sequentially numbered prints can be made with another common or distinctive set of characters or code numbers printed thereon.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the supporting frame includes two longitudinally extending frame members, secured at one end to a number-wheel housing of the number-printing unit and having a support portion at their other ends for the movable remote actuating'member. Such frame members thus provide a type-holder in the form of a slot between the two frame members. The preferred connecting linkage includes a connecting member extending along the frame and supported for movement longitudinally and generally parallel to the axis. The connecting lever is supported within an inner recess in one of the frame members which is laterally offset from the type-holding slot. The orientation of parts in the preferred embodiment is such that movement of the remote actuating member in a direction perpendicular to the plane of a sheet to be printed by the press (for example, as a result of camming or other engagement of the remote actuating member by an element on another portion of the press) is transmitted by a lever to produce the desired longitudinal movement of the connecting member. A similar lever at the opposite end of the device connects the connecting member to the movable number-setting member of the number-printing unit to produce the desired operation. The longitudinal orientation and movement of the connecting member provide a compact construction, which can be readily adapted to the provision of devices of different length, i.e., with different spacings between a number-printing unit and its movable remote actuating member, merely by the substitution of longitudinal frame members and a longitudinal connecting member of different lengths, or even by replacement of only one end plate of the frame for use of the same frame and connecting linkage with number-printing units of different axial length.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following portions of this application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, which form a part of the application, and in which like reference characters indicate like parts FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a preferred sequential numbering and type-holding device according to the invention, with certain parts broken away and with other parts shown in disassembled position, to facilitate an understanding of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the device of FIG. 1, showing a preferred printing alignment of the sequential number-printing unit, removable type member and remote actuating member according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2, with certain portions broken away to show the connecting linkage between the number-printing unit and its remote actuating member;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the device of FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one end of the device of FIG. 1 showing details of the supporting portion for the remote actuating member;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view on the line 66 of FIG. 2, showing details of the number-printing unit;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view on the line 7-7 of FIG. 2, showning details of the preferred type-holding arrangement and the manner in which the connecting member between the number-printing unit and its remote actuating member is offset laterally from the type-holding portion of the device; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8 of FIG. 2, showing details of the manner in which the connecting linkage from the remote actuating member operates the movable number-setting member of the numberprinting unit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred sequential numbering and type holding device according to the invention is shown generally at 10 in FIG. 1. The device includes a supporting frame 11 which has a longitudinal axis. A sequential numberprinting unit 12 is secured to the frame at a first location along the axis, and is specifically located in this embodiment at one end of the frame 11. A movable remote actuating member 13 is supported on the frame at a second location, which is specifically located in this embodiment at the other end of the frame 11. Member 13 has a movable operating surface 14 adapted for engagement by a suitable cam or other force applying member, when it is desired to operate the numberprinting unit to change the specific number to be printed thereby. The device includes a connecting linkage between the actuating member and the numberprinting unit. In this case the connecting linkage includes a connecting member 16 which extends along the frame parallel to its longitudinal axis and which is supported for movement primarily longitudinally and parallel to said axis, in combination with levers 17 and 18 pivoted at the ends of the frame. Movement of the remote actuating member 13 is transmitted through lever 17, connecting member 16 and lever 18 to a movable number-setting member of the sequential numberprinting unit.

In this case, the movable number-setting member is U-shaped and includes side plates 19 and 21 spaced from each other along the longitudinal axis of the unit and connected at their lower ends by a crosswise portion 22 (FIGS. 3 and 6). This U-shaped yoke member is pivoted for rotation on a longitudinally extending supporting shaft 23, which also supports a plurality of individual number-printing wheels 24, 26 and 27in the space between the yoke plates 19 and 21. As shown in FIG. 6, number wheel 27 includes a plurality of number-printing elements 28 around the periphery of the wheel, and a ratchet is secured to one face of each wheel, which in this case would be the left face of each wheel as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3. Thus, in the view shown in FIG. 6, the ratchet 29 is actually secured to the middle numbering wheel 26, and is engaged by a holding pawl at one end of a holding lever 32 pivoted at 33 to a longitudinal shaft supported between the longitudinally spaced supporting walls 34 and 36 of the number wheel housing indicated generally at 37. The lower ends 38 of the levers 32 are engaged by springs 39 supported within cross bores in the base 41 of housing 37. Thus the springs 39 hold the pawls 31 in resilient engagement with the ratchet wheels 29 to hold each number-printing wheel in its desired printing position during each printing movement of the press.

The individual number-printing wheels are operated in the proper sequence, in known manner, by individual pawls 42 carried on a common support member pivoted at 43 to a longitudinal cross shaft extending between plates 19 and 20 of the yoke member. The individual pawls for the different number wheels, such as the units, tens, and the hundreds wheels, have different lengths, as is known in the art, and the individual ratchets 29 have appropriate special notches (not shown) so that the unit wheel must move through its complete sequence of numbers, before the tens wheels is moved one unit, etc. Since the specific details of the numberprinting mechanism are known in the art and do not constitute a part of the invention, they are described herein only to the extent necessary to understand the manner in which the connecting linkage operates in the desired sequence in response to movement of the remote actuating member 13. In this connection, it will be understood that movement of the yoke member and its shaft 43 in the direction of arrow 44 (FIGS. 6 and 8) will advance the sequential number shown by the three numbering wheels 24, 26 and 27 by one unit. Reverse movement of the yoke and its shaft 43 back to the position of FIG. 6 will position the pawl members 42 for the next desired number change.

In this particular case, the remote actuating member 13 is supported for relative vertical movement, as viewed in FIG. 3, i.e. for up and down movement in a direction perpendicular to the plane of a sheet on which the desired sequential numbers are to be printed by the uppermost characters on the printing wheels at the left of FIG. 3.

As shown in more detail in FIGS. 1-4, the supporting frame 11 consists of first and second longitudinally extending side frame members 46 and 47 respectively which are laterally spaced from each other to define a type holding slot 50 within which a selected printingtype member 102 may be removably positioned. Side frame member 46 has one end 48 connected to the number-printing wheel housing portion 34 by a connecting bolt 52, the head of which is accessible in an external recess 51 at the bottom of the frame member. Similarly, the corresponding first end 49 of the second side frame member 47 is secured to the number wheel housing by a bolt 54, the head of which is accommodated in a similar recess 53.

The other ends of the side frame members are connected by a spacer 56 through which a connecting bolt may be secured at 57. A further spacer in the form of a cross bar 58 is secured at an intermediate portion along slot 50 and has a specially shaped or tapered upper end portion 59 which serves as part of a guide portion to insure the correct longitudinal positioning of a removable type member to be received within slot 50 between the side frame members. Thus a removable type slug with a set of code numbers for a given set of sheets or checks to be printed may be inserted through slot 50 until its vertical position is limited and accurately determined by resting on the usual press form bed, while its longitudinal position is determined by engagement of cross bar or guide portion 5d, 59 within a suitably shaped bottom notch in the type member. One

longitudinal end of such a removable type member may also closely engage the end wall of the number wheel housing 3a to further define the printing position of the removable type member in a desired printing alignment with the number wheel characters which are designed to print the sequential numbers on the individual sheets. The bottom of type member M2 will engage the same press form bed as the device ill and will thus be flush with the bottom of the device (FIG. 7). A notch 60 in side frame l7 helps locate stop 5% in its precise desired position.

The side frame member in has an inner guide wall surface with upper and lower portions of and d2 separated by a recess 63 in which the connecting member 16 is accommodated at one side of the slot fill.

As shown in FIGS. l and 3, the lever 117 at one end of the connecting linkage is in essentially the form of a bell crank which has one arm pivoted at an to the connecting member 16. The other arm of the lever or bell crank 17 projects longitudinally at s7 into a longitudinal slot 68 in the remote actuating member 113. Thus vertical movement of member l3 moves lever arm 67 up and down, rotates lever l7 around its axis 64, and through the connection at as urges the connecting member lb longitudinally along the device in one direction or the other.

As shown particularly in FIGS. 2-5, the ends of frame members as and i7 beyond spacer 5% provide a sup porting portion for the remote actuating member 113 to guide it in the desired vertical movement with reference to the plane of a sheet to be printed. Thus a supporting channel is formed which extends vertically between the side frame members and is defined at one end by transverse shoulders do and d7 spaced longitudinally inwardly from the outer ends of each of the side frame members. The support portion for the movable actuating member further includes a horizontally removably slidable bottom plate or bridging the bottom of the space between these frame member ends. Plate 69 may be inserted and removed along retaining grooves 70 in the side frame members and spacer 56, and is retained in assembled position by engagement of a vertically removably slidable end plate 721 which bridges the end of the space between the side frame member ends. End plate 71 is vertically slidable in appropriate retaining grooves 72. in the side frame members and includes stops or shoulders 7'3 which engage corresponding surfaces '74 on the side frame members to limit the movement of the end plate 711 in an upward direction relative to the frame members. Thus end plate '71 may be removed by sliding it vertically downwardly as shown in H6. 5, and it may be reinserted by corresponding upward movement. W hen it is removed, the bottom plate 69 may then be inserted or removed.

Thus the actuating member is vertically movable in the support portion defined by the shoulders db and b7, the side frame members db and d7 and the bottom and end plates 69 and 7t.

shown) in which it can be engaged. and depressed by a cam or other element at each printing movement of the printing press in which the device lid is removably mounted. Upward movement is limited by engagement of stop W on member 113 against: a shoulder btla on frame member as.

The connecting linkage is completed by lever 18 which is pivoted at '79 to side frame member an and which may be identical in construction to the lever l7, except that it is mounted in a reversed position. Thus one arm of lever lid extends downwardly and is pivoted at 81 to the other end of connecting member lb. The remaining arm $2. of lever lb projects longitudinally through a slot @3 in the supporting wall 3d of housing 37, and engages a suitable slot he (FlG. 8) in the side plate l9 of the movable number-setting member or yoke of the number-printing unit. Thus vertical movement of remote actuating member T3 is transmitted to plate T9 of the yoke to operate the: sequential numberprinting unit and change the desired sequential number by one unit at a time at each operation of the press.

As shown particularly in l 'lG. 7, the connecting linkage between the actuating member and the numberprinting unit is accommodated in one of the side frame members in such a manner that it is laterally displaced outwardly from the slot Sill. Thus connecting member lid is laterally out of engagement with removable type member illlZ which is positioned within slot 50 against the inner wall surfaces oil and 62. To hold the removable type member firmly against these positioning wall surface portions, and thus insure the desired printing alignment of such a type member, the other frame member 47 is provided with at least one resiliently deformable type retaining member lid. As shown in FIG. 7, member lid is supported in angular top and bottom slots W and 9t respectively in side frame member t? in such a manner that the curvature of member 88 causes it to project resiliently part-way into slot fill, and sufficiently far to engage a removable type member in the slot and hold such type member firmly against the positioning surfaces fill and n2. Thus the combination of the slot 5%, the inner wall surfaces bl, er, the cross bar or stop fill, 59, and the members at each end of the slot as and lid, all cooperate to provide a guide portion on the frame for positioning a removable printing type member in fixed desired printing alignment within the slot or type holder. Although such a removable type slug will have its printing surface projecting somewhat above the side frame members an and $7, in order to be at the same printing level as the tops of the number wheels M, as and 27., as viewed in Flt 3, the insertion and removal of such a type member is facilitated by providing cut-away portions 92 and 93 in the upper edges of the respective side frame members db and d7.

According to a further feature of the invention, the number wheel housing 37 of the number-printing unit has at least one removable type member secured thereon at a printing location in longitudinal alignment with and immediately adjacent the sequential numbers to be printed by that unit. in this case two such removable members are provided with printing characters at one end, with immediately adjacent code numbers or 10 characters at 94 and 96, all of which are in desired longitudinal printing alignment with the code numbers or characters carried by a removable type member shown in print position at 102 in FIG. 2.

According to another feature, the device also includes a vertical notch 104 which can serve as one end of another type holder or slot for another removable type slug (not shown). For example, when the device of the invention is fitted into a correspondinbly-sized opening in a letter press form, the number-printing unit housing end wall will fit against a form piece (not shown) which has a type slug retaining slot and positioning crossbar similar to the slot 50 and crossbar 58, 59 between frame members 46 and 47. Thus another removable type slug with additional fixed coded numbers or characters can be positioned in desired alighment at the outer axial end of the number-printing housing, i.e., with one end of the slug in slot 104.

In some applications, number-printing units of different axial length may be needed. For example, a unit with four type wheels to provide sequential numbers as high as 9999, would have an axial length greater than the three-wheel unit of FIGS. 1 to 3. To permit use of the same frame members 46, 47, remote actuator 13, and connecting linkage member and levers 16, 17 and 18, the removable end plate 71 for the three-wheel number printing unit has an axially projecting portion 75 which extends axially a distance equal to the added length of a four-wheel numbering unit. Thus an end plate identical to plate 71 but without projection 75 can be substituted when the same frame is to be used with a longer four-wheel number-printing unit, while projection 75 has a length adapted to fill the available axial space between a normal tie and form piece in a letter press form when the frame of this invention is used with the shorter three-wheel numbering unit as shown. In either case, end plate 71 with projection 75, or a similar end plate without the projection will fit against a tie or other element of the press form to fill the axial length of the opening.

Thus a versatile construction has been provided which can be used for a wide variety of applications in which it is desirable to replace one set of relatively fixed code numbers from time to time without removing the entire device from a printing press. Similarly, the number-printing unit can be actuated from a remote point by an actuator which is outside of the area of the desired check to be printed.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the particular shapes, dimensions, and other details of construction of the sequential numbering and type-holding device and its component parts could be further modified in various ways within the principles of the present invention. The present specification, however, sets forth some of the ways in which the invention may be put into practice, including the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention.

What is claimed is: 1. An improved sequential numbering and typeholding device for removable attachment to a printing press form to provide sequential numbers as part of a desired common printing surface in such form, said device comprising a. A supporting frame having first and second side frame members, b. a sequential number-printing unit including a number wheel housing secured to the frame at a first location and having a movable number-setting member supported for number-changing movement at said first location, c. a movable remote actuating member for the number-printing unit supported on the frame and having a movable operating surface at a second location spaced along said frame from the numberprinting unit and from said first location and thereby defining a longitudinal frame axis extending generally through said first and second spaced locations and parallel to the desired common printing surface with said first and second side frame members extending longitudinally between said first and second locations, the frame having 1. a type-holding slot thereon for removably holding a selected printing-type member between said side frame members at a third location on the device between said first and second locations and in desired printing relationship as part of the desired common printing surface with the number-printing unit, and said frame also having 2. a support portion supporting the movable remote actuating member for movement of its operating surface along a path perpendicular to the desired common printing surface and thereby providing for such movement of the remote actuating member in response to corresponding perpendicular movement of the frame and common printing surface, and

d. a connecting linkage between the actuating member and the number-setting member including at least one connecting member extending along the frame parallel to said longitudinal axis and between said first and second side frame members and at one side of said type-holding slot and supported for longitudinal movement parallel to said axis and to said common printing surface, said connecting linkage further including a first lever pivoted at the end of one frame member at said first location adjacent the number wheel housing and connected between said one connecting linkage member and the movable number-setting member of said number-printing unit for actuating the latter in response to longitudinal movement of the connecting linkage member, and a second lever pivoted at the other end of said one frame member at said second location adjacent the movable remote actuating member and connected between said one connecting linkage member and said movable remote actuating member for moving the linkage member longitudinally in response to vertical movement of the remote actuating member, said linkage thereby interconnecting said actuating and number-setting members for number-changing movement of the number-setting member in response to movement of the operating surface of the remote actuating member perpendicular to the desired common printing surface.

2. An improved sequential numbering and typeholding device for removable attachment to a printing press form to provide sequential numbers as part of a desired common printing surface in such form, said device comprising a. A supporting frame,

b. A sequential number-printing unit secured to the frame at a first location and having a movable number-setting member supported for numberchanging movement at said first location,

c. A movable remote actuating member for the number-printing unit supported on the frame and having a movable operating surface at a second location spaced along said frame from the numberprinting unit and from said first location and thereby defining a longitudinal frame axis extending generally through said first and second spaced locations and parallel to the desired common printing surface, the frame having l. a type-holder thereon for removably holding a selected printing-type member at a third location on the device between said first and second locations and in desired printing relationship as part of the desired common printing surface with the number-printing unit, said type-holder having a construction providing for insertion and removal of different printing type members without removal of the numbering and type-holding device from a printing press form, and said type-holder comprising a portion of said frame providing an open type-holding slot along said axis between the number-printing unit and movable remote actuating member, said slot extending generally perpendicular to the desired common printing surface, and a guide portion on the frame for positioning a removable printing type member in fixed desired printing alignment within the slot, said guide portion including a longitudinal inner guide surface on said frame defining one side of the type-holding slot, said frame having at least one resiliently deformable type-retaining member at the opposite side of the slot for resiliently engaging a removable printing type member within the slot and urging it against said inner guide surface, and said guide portion also including a stop within the slot located for engagement by such a removable printing type member to limit its longitudinal position within the slot and thereby determine its printing position therein,

d. A connecting linkage between the actuating member and the number-setting member, said linkage interconnecting said members for numberchanging movement of the number-setting member in response to movement of the operating surface of the remote actuating member, said connecting linkage including at least one connecting member extending along the frame parallel to its longitudinal axis at a location displaced laterally outwardly from the inner guide surface at said one side of said slot within said frame,

said frame including first and second longitudinally extending side frame members, said slot being defined by a space between the side frame members, and said stop including a crossbar connecting the side frame members to each other at an intermediate point along the till length of the slot, and said number printing unit including a number wheel housing, the side frame members having the wheel housing secured thereto at one end and having a support portion at their other ends supporting the movable remote actuating member for vertical movement in a plane corresponding to the slot, one of said frame members having an inner wall surface constituting said inner guide surface at said one edge of the slot and said inner wall surface having a longitudinal recess within which said one connecting member extends from one end of said one frame member to the other for longitudinal movement generally parallel to said longitudinal frame axis, said connecting linkage further including a first lever pivoted at the end of said one frame member adjacent the number wheel housing and connected between said one: connecting linkage member and the movable number-setting member of said number-printing unit for actuating the latter in response to longitudinal movement of the connecting linkage member, and a second lever pivoted at the other end of said one frame member adjacent the movable actuating member and connected between said one connecting linkage member and said movable actuating member for moving the linkage member longitudinally in response to vertical movement of the actuating member.

3. A sequential numbering and type-holding device according to claim 2 in which the support portion for the movable actuating member includes a transverse shoulder spaced longitudinally inwardly from said other ends of each of the side frame members. a horizontally removably slidable bottom plate bridging the bottom of the space between said other frame member ends, and a vertically removably slidable end plate bridging the end of the space between said other frame member ends, said actuating member being vertically movable in the support portion defined by said shoulders, side frame members and bottom and end plates.

4-. A sequential numbering and type-holding device according to claim 3 in which the end plate is removably slidable from the frame members in a vertical downward direction and has a limiting surface which limits upward sliding movement of the end plate thereby defining a normal assembled position, and in which the end plate engages and prevents removal of the bottom plate while the end plate is in its normal assembled position.

5. A sequential numbering and type-holding device according to claim 3 in which said actuating member support portion includes a return spring compressed between the bottom plate and the actuating member urging the actuating member upwardly, and a stop member limiting the upward movement of the actuating member and thereby defining a normal return position for the actuating member.

6.. A sequential number and and type-holding device according to claim 3 in which the removably slidable end plate includes an axially projecting portion having a length adapted to fill the available axial space in a printing press form opening and thereby position the device accurately in the press form.

'7. A sequential numbering and type-holding device according to claim 3 in which the number wheel hous ing also has an end slot portion shaped to fit against a form piece and provide at least part of another typeholding slot beyond the number-printing end of the de- 

1. An improved sequential numbering and type-holding device for removable attachment to a printing press form to provide sequential numbers as part of a desired common printing surface in such form, said device comprising a. A supporting frame having first and second side frame members, b. a sequential number-printing unit including a number wheel housing secured to the frame at a first location and having a movable number-setting member supported for number-changing movement at said first location, c. a movable remote actuating member for the number-printing unit supported on the frame and having a movable operating surface at a second location spaced along said frame from the number-printing unit and from said first location and thereby defining a longitudinal frame axis extending generally through said first and second spaced locations and parallel to the desired common printing surface with said first and second side frame members extending longitudinally between said first and second locations, the frame having
 1. a type-holding slot thereon for removably holding a selected printing-type member between said side frame members at a third location on the device between said first and second locations and in desired printing relationship as part of the desired common printing surface with the number-printing unit, and said frame also having
 2. a support portion supporting the movable remote actuating member for movement of its operating surface along a path perpendicular to the desired common printing surface and thereby providing for such movement of the remote actuating member in response to corresponding perpendicular movement of the frame and common printing surface, and d. a connecting linkage between the actuating member and the number-setting member including at least one connecting member extending along the frame parallel to said longitudinal axis and between said first and second side frame members and at one side of said type-holding slot and supported for longitudinal movement parallel to said axis and to said common printing surface, said connecting linkage furtHer including a first lever pivoted at the end of one frame member at said first location adjacent the number wheel housing and connected between said one connecting linkage member and the movable number-setting member of said number-printing unit for actuating the latter in response to longitudinal movement of the connecting linkage member, and a second lever pivoted at the other end of said one frame member at said second location adjacent the movable remote actuating member and connected between said one connecting linkage member and said movable remote actuating member for moving the linkage member longitudinally in response to vertical movement of the remote actuating member, said linkage thereby interconnecting said actuating and number-setting members for number-changing movement of the number-setting member in response to movement of the operating surface of the remote actuating member perpendicular to the desired common printing surface.
 2. An improved sequential numbering and type-holding device for removable attachment to a printing press form to provide sequential numbers as part of a desired common printing surface in such form, said device comprising a. A supporting frame, b. A sequential number-printing unit secured to the frame at a first location and having a movable number-setting member supported for number-changing movement at said first location, c. A movable remote actuating member for the number-printing unit supported on the frame and having a movable operating surface at a second location spaced along said frame from the number-printing unit and from said first location and thereby defining a longitudinal frame axis extending generally through said first and second spaced locations and parallel to the desired common printing surface, the frame having
 2. a support portion supporting the movable remote actuating member for movement of its operating surface along a path perpendicular to the desired common printing surface and thereby providing for such movement of the remote actuating member in response to corresponding perpendicular movement of the frame and common printing surface, and d. a connecting linkage between the actuating member and the number-setting member including at least one connecting member extending along the frame parallel to said longitudinal axis and between said first and second side frame members and at one side of said type-holding slot and supported for longitudinal movement parallel to said axis and to said common printing surface, said connecting linkage furtHer including a first lever pivoted at the end of one frame member at said first location adjacent the number wheel housing and connected between said one connecting linkage member and the movable number-setting member of said number-printing unit for actuating the latter in response to longitudinal movement of the connecting linkage member, and a second lever pivoted at the other end of said one frame member at said second location adjacent the movable remote actuating member and connected between said one connecting linkage member and said movable remote actuating member for moving the linkage member longitudinally in response to vertical movement of the remote actuating member, said linkage thereby interconnecting said actuating and number-setting members for number-changing movement of the number-setting member in response to movement of the operating surface of the remote actuating member perpendicular to the desired common printing surface.
 3. A sequential numbering and type-holding device according to claim 2 in which the support portion for the movable actuating member includes a transverse shoulder spaced longitudinally inwardly from said other ends of each of the side frame members, a horizontally removably slidable bottom plate bridging the bottom of the space between said other frame member ends, and a vertically removably slidable end plate bridging the end of the space between said other frame member ends, said actuating member being vertically movable in the support portion defined by said shoulders, side frame members and bottom and end plates.
 4. A sequential numbering and type-holding device according to claim 3 in which the end plate is removably slidable from the frame members in a vertical downward direction and has a limiting surface which limits upward sliding movement of the end plate thereby defining a normal assembled position, and in which the end plate engages and prevents removal of the bottom plate while the end plate is in its normal assembled position.
 5. A sequential numbering and type-holding device according to claim 3 in which said actuating member support portion includes a return spring compressed between the bottom plate and the actuating member urging the actuating member upwardly, and a stop member limiting the upward movement of the actuating member and thereby defining a normal return position for the actuating member.
 6. A sequential number and and type-holding device according to claim 3 in which the removably slidable end plate includes an axially projecting portion having a length adapted to fill the available axial space in a printing press form opening and thereby position the device accurately in the press form.
 7. A sequential numbering and type-holding device according to claim 3 in which the number wheel housing also has an end slot portion shaped to fit against a form piece and provide at least part of another type-holding slot beyond the number-printing end of the device. 